Westwood 35, Ashland 7: Letdown avoided

Tuesday

Oct 15, 2013 at 12:01 AMOct 15, 2013 at 3:02 PM

Although the double overtime victory over Holliston last week took a toll on the Westwood High football team both mentally and physically, the Wolverines had no trouble bouncing back as they rolled over Ashland 35-7 at Flahive Field on Friday night.

James Maimonis/Sports Correspondent

Although the double overtime victory over Holliston last week took a toll on the Westwood High football team both mentally and physically, the Wolverines had no trouble bouncing back as they rolled over Ashland 35-7 at Flahive Field on Friday night.

The Wolverines (4-1) played without senior captain, running back/defensive back Danny Roache, who sat against Ashland with a lingering injury. Fellow captains, Bo Berluti, Scott McManus and Thomas Radonich were held out of the first quarter for disciplinary reasons.

Drew Adams and Connor DiVincenzo filled the void left by Roache at running back, and sophomore Brendan Patterson started at quarterback in place of Berluti. Patterson, who is normally the starting tight end, began the game 4-of-4 passing with 42 yards and drove Westwood down to the Clockers 6-yard line before throwing his first incompletion on fourth-and-2.

“I felt really comfortable, I was composed and I think the whole team really was confident,” Patterson said. “We weren’t going to let anything, any circumstances, any off-field issues stop us, so it was good to see our team break through that.”

The first quarter ended 0-0 after the Wolverines recovered a fumble at the Ashland 23, giving Berluti ideal field position for his first series.

Berluti hit Patterson for 12 yards for his first completion to bring the Wolverines within the 5, and two plays later, DiVincenzo rushed in for a 3-yard touchdown. Berluti accounted for two more touchdowns in the second quarter, a 26-yard completion to Jimmy Fallon and a 7-yard keeper as the Wolverines held a 21-7 lead at halftime.

The Clockers marched into the red zone in the third quarter behind two long runs by Paul Ferrier, but on second-and-9 from the Westwood 12, Jack Murphy made the defensive play of the game, as he tipped a pass at the goal line that landed in the hands of McManus for a Westwood interception and 28-yard return.

Murphy also went on to make a pair of end zone deflections on third and fourth down later in the quarter.

“He’s a senior and he stepped up and we needed him tonight,” Westwood coach Ed Mantie said of Murphy. “We talk all the time about when one guy goes down, another one has to step up and he did, and he was one of our best players on the field.”

The interception was a turning point for the Wolverines, as they buckled down and stepped on the gas pedal.

“We hung in there, we took a couple hits, they drove down field on us, but we hung in there, punched it right in the mouth, and said, ‘We’re not letting you score,’ and that was it,” DiVincenzo said of the defense.

The first play following the interception, Berluti ran 69 yards to the Ashland 3, outrunning all but one Clocker defender. Adams found the end zone on the next play, extending the Westwood lead to 28-7.

“This whole week, without Danny, we just used (Adams and DiVincenzo) back and forth and it’s a nice 1-2 punch,” Mantie said. “They were fantastic tonight. One, they held on to the football and didn’t turn it over. No. 2, assignment-wise, they were pretty close to perfect. And three, they ran the ball hard.”

Adams laid the final dagger in the form of a 39-yard touchdown run up the middle with 4:21 to play in the contest, and DiVincenzo credited the offensive line for the success in the run game.

“It was great. Both of us practiced at back and we’re going to switch between fullback and back, but it was all the offensive line tonight,” he said. “There were just holes after holes after holes.”

Despite starting the game at quarterback, Patterson led the receiving corps with four catches for 57 yards. Mantie was impressed the work he put in on offense at multiple positions and on defense.

“I can’t say enough words about this kid. He’s one of the most poised kids I’ve ever coached. All the things he did tonight, and the little things that you don’t see, his blocking assignments were perfect,” Mantie said. “Playing quarterback, defensive end, all the balls he caught, the kid is just a football player and I’m so proud of his effort tonight. By my accounts, he was player of the game.”

Mantie said he was unsure if Roache or two-way lineman Ryan DeMarinis, who suffered multiple leg injuries against the Clockers, will be back in time for Friday’s Tri-Valley League Large contest against Medway.